3 Chapter III: Hesitation.
"Duke..."
Although the prince has more power than Duke Ericellis, He reeks a more powerful aura than him, enough to make him whimper and slump like a little stray puppy, but his pride isn't as thin as a window that can be shattered so easily.
"Me and Lady Eloette were having a conversation. It's immoral-"
"Don't teach me about morals when you don't have one yourself, young prince."
The Duke finishes his sentence for him. This leaves the prince speechless and dumbfounded. Completely unfazed by Filleo's hole-bearing glare, he approaches Eloette.
"F... Father..."
Eloette stutters.
'..Father? '
He wonders with a twitch in his eye. He was quite fond of the way Eloette used to call him, 'papa'. He lets out a hopeless sigh and looks at her with a tiring gaze.
This leaves Eloette puzzled and a little bit worried. Not knowing what is going on.
"Young Prince."
"...?"
"I was sure that the news about my daughter collapsing during a party was spreading like wild fire? How come you are here to disturb her rest?"
It was more of a warning rather than a question.
"I was simply just worried for my beloved... Fine, If my presence was such a bother to lady Eloette... then I shall take my leave."
And so, with a dramatic farewell, The Bronze Prince finally takes his leave. This gave Eloette a sense of relief as she slumps herself against the Chaise lounge... Not noticing Ericellis' gaze glued to her every movement.
"Why are you roaming around like an idiot when you should be resting?"
Despite the insult he included, he was genuinely worried for her well-being... But Eloette misunderstood it as him being annoyed by her audience. So she stood up from the lounge and avoids his gaze, her thin lips slowly parting...
"I'm sorry, father. I'll leave you be and go ahead to rest."
She sulked.
"That's not-... Do whatever."
He denies as Eloette passes through him.
...
'Being an acting father is a lot harder than I thought...'
He complains to himself while walking towards his office. It is no hidden secret that Ericellis was the one who reversed the time after seeing something as horrid as looking at Eloette's broken corpse.
The last words that came out of Eloette's mouth pierced him deeper than an arrow ever could, whats worse is that he could never remove it and seal the wound. It is true that he bears no love towards Eloette but... he didn't wish for her death, he never did.
'I just turned 22 in this timeline...I had the thought that I was growing mature at this age...But it took me 7 more years to understand how cruel of a person I was to Eloette'
Guilt was the only thing he felt as soon as Eloette comes to his mind. He swore that after reversing the time, he will try his best to give the attention that she yearns, but 'why is it so hard?' is what is repeating on and on inside his head.
...
"Milady, I have prepared your bath"
